alas_a_llama | (no subject)

Crossposts: http://alas-a-llama.livejournal.com/220122.html

(no subject)

Okay. So. I am having my periodic anxiety problems right now, which as - probably anyone who knows me will have noticed by now, come around for a month or two, then vanish for a month or two, then come back again for a month or two. I've been like this since about mid-March, so we're getting on for a month now.

The best way of dealing with this, in conjunction with medication and - preferably not in conjunction with alcohol abuse as was the case the last time I had these problems, during January and early February - is to distract myself. This is a thing I know - it doesn't really stop me from obsessing, but it does give me something to focus on for short periods of time.

With that in mind, people! If there are any TV shows you think I ought to be marathoning, by all means tell me of them. They do not necessarily need to be light and fluffy.

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Okay, keeping in mind I have no idea if you've seen any of these or not, here is a reasonably comprehensive list of Shit I Have Watched And Enjoyed In The Last, Like, Five Years Or So, In No Particular Order:

Sailor Moon

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha

Elementary

The Listener

Sleepy Hollow but I quit watching like three episodes in so I cannot in fairness actually recommend the rest because I have no idea if it's still good or not

Teen Wolf but I know for a fact that it goes totally and completely off the rails by season three, like, it has taken a flying leap over the shark, escaped Earth's gravity, and is now on its merry way out of the solar system. But the first season or so is still fun.

I may be forgetting some things. I'm probably forgetting some things.

I will happily elaborate on any of the ones you haven't heard of, if you like. XD

I've not seen Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha or The Listener out of those, so I'll add them to the list. You should tell me more about them! If you want to.

Nanoha: I've heard it described as being basically a mecha anime in which the mecha are replaced by magical girls. This is pretty accurate. It is really fun and also frequently heart-wrenching but in an Everything Turns Out Okay In The End sort of way. The art style is sometimes odd, but one gets used to it. Or at least I did.

The Listener: It is a CANADIAN tv show set in TORONTO in which a paramedic who can hear people's thoughts has adventures and does things. Can you tell I'm excited about the fact that it's set in Toronto? I'm really excited about the fact that it's set in Toronto. XD Also the main character is ridic adorable; see icon.

Eeexcellent, I will make sure to check both of these out.

I thought that was Chris Pine in your icon.

I feel ashamed.

They both have cute faces and extremely blue eyes! It is an understandable mistake to make. <3

May I suggest Adventure Time? It looks as if series 1-4 are available as instant video on amazon.co.uk; fair warning, it's £1.49 for each two-short episode. I've only seen series 1 and most of series 2 so far but it's really quite good.

I suspect I could probably find it on Youtube or somewhere on the internet for free, so I'll add it to the list.

Do you know 'Black Sails'? 'Bates Motel'? NBC's 'Dracula'? The last one is a bit of a mixed bag, but still good for a nice marathon. And 'Bates Motel', albeit despite the Hannibal-alike premise of 'modern prequel to classic horror movie', is quite decent. Bring light, fluffy things to throw at the screen because of Mrs. Bates, who is just that infuriating.

I've seen a few episodes of Black Sails, but could definitely do with catching up on it, so I'll add that to the list. I'll add Bates Motel, too. Dracula I've seen, having marathoned it the last time I had an anxiety flare-up.

Good! Glad to be of service!

Seconding Teen Wolf, its good for marathoning with its weird plots that suck you in.

Elementary is fun though I'm behind on it.

Leverage if you haven't seen it already, each episode is a mini heist film but with feelings.

Baccano! that I recently rewatched, violent and stylish anime with fantastic music.

I feel like I should be able to think of more but that's all I've got for now.

I seriously recommend Scott & Bailey, most of which seems to be on YouTube (and I should be able to supply if not). You've heard me babble about my feelings on that, so I'll leave off describing.

There's also The Indian Doctor, which is a BBC drama set in the South Wales Valleys in the 1950s, and is written by and stars Sanjeev Bhaskar. It is gentle and adorable and I slightly love the title character's wife, like, a lot.

Not sure if you're watching Masterchef, but it's been running for the past few weeks and is pretty highly addictive viewing. I'm also happy to watchalong with you if you get into that.

I know you've heard some of Cabin Pressure, but I recommend marathoning that for stress. I used to listen to a couple of episodes on repeat when I was doing the call centre ~~hell~~ job to keep from panic-attacking, and found that it worked really well.

If you can focus on a book, try the John Le Carre novels? Twisty-turny atmospheric spy drama. There are a lot of them (they mostly don't need to be read in any particular order) and they're long, so should keep you going for a while. I have audiobooks of some of them if that would work better for you.

It's a few years old now, but The Cape was a US show about a father who was set up as basically being a terrorist and had to go underground. He mets up with a circus (yes, really) and they train him to use a MAGIC CAPE to basically become his son's favourite superhero and Set Things Right. It is every bit as ridiculous as it sounds, and I loved it.

More as I think of them, but now I must has SLEEPS.

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